Buckle



April 19, 1938. F, A, RAY 2,114,355

BUCKLE Filed Oct. 28, 1936 ist Patented Apr. 19, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application October 28,

10 Claims.

My invention relates to a buckle of the particular type generally used in connection with belts, harness straps and the like, and the principal object of my invention is, to provide a. relatively simple, strong, efcient and compact buckle, that is inexpensive of manufacture, presents a neat and finished appearance, and the parts f which buckle are capable of being easily and quickly connected and disconnected.

A further object of my invention, is to provide a buckle of vthe type having a body formed in two parts, one of which carries a xed stud or studs that engage in apertures formed in the belt or strap to which the buckle is applied, and the stud-carrying body member being retained in its belt-engaging position by the other body member of the belt which overlies a portion of the studcarrying member and the natural pull or strains on the belt or strap tending to maintain the partition of the buckle in properly connected relation.

A further object of my invention, is to provide a buckle of the character referred to, that is very compact so that very little width and thickness is added to the over-all dimensions of the belt o strap to which the buckle is applied.

With the foregoing and other objects in view my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangements of parts that will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:v

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a buckle constructed in accordance with my invention, and showing the same applied to the end portions of a belt or strap.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-section taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1. l

Fig. 4 is a cross-section taken on the line 4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken approximately on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a plan View of a modified form of the buckle.

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section taken on the line '1 -'I of Fig. 6.l

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section. taken approximately on the line 8-8 of Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of a further modified form of the buckle of the type wherein one of the parts of the buckle body carries a plurality of strapengaging studs.

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal section taken on the line Ill-I0 of Fig. 9,

1936, serial No. 197,969

Fig. 11 is a horizontal section taken approximately on the line II-II of Fig. 10.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawing, and particularly to the form of buckle illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, I0 designates a plate'that is preferably formed of metal and substantially rectangular in form, and depending from the sides of this plate are narrow walls I I. Formed integral with the lower edges of these side walls at one end thereof, are inwardly presented lips I2 which occupy positions substantially parallel with and a short distance below the corresponding end portion of the plate I0.

At the opposite end of plate I0, a transverse portion is depressed so as to form a lip I3 that occupies a plane just below that occupied by the main body portion of y plate I0, and secured to and depending from this depressed lip, are oneor more strapengaging studs I4.

Adapted to overlie the depressed lip I3, is a strap I5' preferably formed of metal, the length of which is substantially equal to the width of plate IIJ, and at the ends of said strap I5, portions thereof are extended downwardly, as designated by I6, which parts are in `alignment with the dependingside walls II of plate I0 and from the lower ends of said depending portions I6, the end portions of the metal vstrap forming the overlying member I5 and end walls I6 are extended inwardly to form lips I1 that are arranged parallel with and spaced apart from the end portions of the overlying member I5.

When the two parts of the buckle are properly assembled to close or secure the buckle, strap I5 overlies the depressed end portion I3 of plate I0.

The intermediate portion of a piece of thin resilient metal that is folded double, lies immediately above and below the lips I2, as designated by I8, and the doubled portions of this piece of metal are secured to each other at points adjacent those portions that overlie the lips I2 by suitable fastening means, such as rivets I9.

The intermediate portions of the two thicknesses of resilient metal that overlie the ears I2 are cut away so as to form at the sides of the resilient member, pairs of arms 20 that are disposed lengthwise of the buckle at the sides thereof, said arms being positioned above and below the inwardly projecting ears I'I and extending a short distance beyond said ears, and the ends of these arms are connected by integral cross l members 2l.

Inasmuch as the metal from which the parts I8 and 20 are formed is resilient, the pairs of arms and adapted to overlie this depressed portion 25' presented lips I1 will yleldingly resist any tendency of said lips to tilt or swing so as to separate the members comprising the resilient arms 20.

When this form of buckle is secured to a strap, one end of the latter is formed into a loop 22 that passes around the transverse end members 2| that connect the ends of the resilient arms 20, and the free end of said strap is secured to= the body of the strap in any suitable manner, preferably by means of one or more rivets such as R.

When this form of buckle is used on a belt, one

end of the latter is connected to the transverse members 2 I, and the opposite end portion of the belt which is provided with spaced apertures 23, passes beneath the overlying member I5 and the body 20, with the stud I4 positioned in one of the apertures 23.

When the buckle is closed the end 'of rstud I4 projects entirely through one of the perforations 23 in the end of the belt, and the projecting end of said stud engages against the cross member that connects the endsv of thearms 20 opposite the transverse members 2 I, as illustrated by solid lines in Fig. 2 and by dotted lines in Fig. 5.

When the bolt to which my improved buckle is applied, is in service, the pulling strains impressed on the connected ends of the belt tend to maintain the parts of the buckle in properly connected relation, for the pulling strains irnpressed on the resilientY arms 210 are transmittedV to member I5 so as to hold the same firmly in position over'the depressed' portion I3 that carries-the belt-engaging stud I4, andthe pulling strains impressed on the perforated end portion of the belt directed against the stud I4 maintains the Vdepressedv end portion I3 of plate It beneath the overlying strap I5. l

To disconnect the parts of the buckle, the ends of the strap or belt that are connected by the buckle are drawn toward'each other, so as to move the buckle members I0 and I5 away from each other, and when member VI 5 has been moved into-position so as to wholly uncover thev underlying depressed member I3, the end of plate I 0 carrying said depressed member and the stud |4 is swung upward a sufficient distance to disengage stud I4 from the aperture 23v in which it was engaged. v f

During this swinging or tilting movement of member IIl, the ears I2 disposed between the pairs of resilient legs 20 function as an axis on which member I0 moves'an'd the members of the pairs of resilient legs 2|) are yieldingly forced apart vto accommodate the movement of the ears I2, and after the belt or strap has been disengaged from the stud I4, the member I0 will be swung toward the'perforated end of the belt by thepressure vof' the resilient legs 20 against the ears I2.

In order that this form of buckle may present a balanced appearance, the upper' or outer face of plate Ill is` provided with a transverse groove G adjacent theend opposite the end having the depressed lip I3, and thuswhen vthe buckle is properly connected, the front face thereof ap*- pears as a rectangular panel with parallel groves disposed adjacent the ends ofthe buckle body.

In the modified form' of buckle illustrated in Figs. 6 to 8 inclusive, Ythe main body'portion of the buckle comprises a plate 24, one side edge of which is slightly depressed, asA designated by 25,

is a plate 26that is approximately equal in length to the length of plate 24.

Depending from the endsof rplate 26 are short end members 21, and projecting at right angles inwardly toward each other from the lower ends of said end members 21 are ears 28.

Depending from the ends of plate 24 are end walls 29, and projecting at right angles inwardly from the lower portions of these end walls 29 are ears 30. The depressed portion 25 of plate 24 carries one or more studs 3| that are adapted to engage in the perforations of a belt or strap B. A thin plate of resilient metal is bentdouble to form practically identical upper and lower members 32, and positioned between said members adjacent the point where the sheet of metal is bent are the ears 28 that project inwardly from the lower ends of the end walls 21.

The ears 30 that project inwardly from the lower ends of the end walls 29 are positioned between the layers or parts of the resilient plate, and formed in the end portions of the members 32^beyond the ears 30 are coinciding apertures 33. The'transverse members 34 at v`the outer end of. aperture 33 combine to forma cross-bar or the like, around'which is looped one end 'of the belt or'strap B and the portions thereof adjacent this cross-bar being united in any suitable manner; for instance, by a rivet or rivets or by a transverse row of stitches.

Formed in the upper one 'of'the members 32 adjacent the end where'the same is bent, is a longitudinally disposed slot 35for the accommodation of the 'lower'end'of'stud 3|" when the buckle is closedjsee Fig. 7. K

Where this form of buckle is used, the pulling strains impressed upon Athe connected parts of the belt or strap tend to hold theparts of the buckle in assembled relation andwith plate 26 overlying the depressed portion 25'of plate 24, so as to hold the parts ofthe buckle together and with the stud 3| in'one ofthe aperturesof the belt or strap.

To ldisconnect this form of buckle, the connected ends of the belt or strap are moved toward each other, kthereby moving the parts of the buckle away from'each other oruntil the depressed portion 25 of plate 24`is free from over lying plate 26, and under suchconditions the depressed end of plate 24 may be swung away` from the perforated portion of-the belt or strap so as to disengage the stud'3I from the aperture'in whichv it has been positioned.V 1

During this swinging-movement of the buckle member carrying stud 3|, the ears 30 positioned between the sidesof theresilient members 32 function as an axis, and lafter the belt or strap has been disengaged from'the stud-'2 I, the pressure of the resilient members 32 on the interposed ears 30 acts to return the buckle membercarrying the stud 3| to its normal position.

The modied construction illustrated in Figs. 9, 10 and 1l isv embodied in the-larger sizeof buckles or those intended for use in connectiony with harness'or for'lequip'menthaving comparatively large and heavy straps.' This form4 of buckle comprises a loop having any upper or outer plate 36 and a lower or inner plate 31, the'latter being' slightly wider i than' thev Vplate 36.

Associated with this loop is a buckle member comprising anupper or outer plate 38, one side portion of which is depressed to form a lip 39," which when the'parts lof thebuckle are connected, lies beneath the plate 36 of the loop'. Y

Seated "in andldepending'from underlying lip 39 are'tWo or more studs 4I) thatare Vadapted to engage "in tapertures 44I I"that" are formed in a strap s that passes through the-buckle*imme-` diately beneath the plate 138 andI its depressed lip 39.

Depending from the ends of the plate 38 are end members 42, and connecting the lower ends of these end members is a transverse bar 43 that normally occupies a position directly in front of plate 31. Arranged beneath the plates 31'in any suitable manner, preferably by means-:ofA a rivet 44, is a centrally arranged strip 45 of vresilient metal which projects a short distance lbeyond strap or plate 43 and the end of said strap 45 terminating in a hook 46. One end of. a resilient metal strip 41, which overlies plate 43, is secured to plate 31 by the rivet 44, and the free end of this strip 41 terminates adjacent the hook 46 on strip 45. Thus the transverse plate or strap 43 is positioned to move freely between the resilient strips 45 and 41 and said strips function as springs, and yieldingly resist any tendency of the strap or plate 43 to tilt in either direction.

Overlying and underlying the plates 31 and 43 and the resilient strips 45 and 41 that are carried by plate 31, are the ends of straps fr, the ends of which are suitably secured to each other at a point just beyond the outer edge of plate 31, and which securing means may be rivets or a trans-k verse row of stitching as illustrated in Figs. l0 and 11.

In this form of buckle, the pulling strains impressed o-n the straps s and :c tend to hold the parts of the buckle in assembled relation and with the plate 36 overlying the lip 39 and the latter carrying the studs 40 that engage in the apertures of strap s.

To disconnect this form of buckle, the connected ends of the straps s and a: are moved toward each other for a short distance or until lip 39 has been disengaged from its position beneath plate 36, and the plate 38 carrying the lip may now be swung upward so as to disengage the studs 40 from the apertures 4I in which they have been engaged, and this movement of plate 38 is yieldingly resisted by the resilient strips 45 and 41, between which the strap or plate 43 is positioned.

After the strap s has been disengaged from the buckle, the pressure of the resilient strips 45 and 41 on strap or plate 43 acts to swings the parts 38 and 39 of the buckle back to their normal positions.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a buckle'that is relatively simple in construction, inexpensive of manufacture and very effective in performing the functions for which it is intended.

The buckle is very compact, and therefore adds very little to the thickness of the strap or straps with which it is associated, and when the buckle is closed so as to secure the ends of a belt or strap, all pulling strains tending to separate the connected ends of the belt or strap are utilized for holding the parts of the buckle in proper assembled relation, thus making it impossible for the parts of the buckle to become separated while the connected ends of the belt or strap are under pulling strains.

In the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, the lower end of the stud i4, when the buckle is closed, engages against the cross member that connects the ends of the resilient arms 20 opposite the transverse arms 2 l, and thus both ends of the stud have rm rigid bearings that transmit all pulling strains of the perforated end of the belt or strap to the plate I0 and the doubled member I8 that provides the resilient arms 28 and which is connected to plate I0.

In the construction illustrated in Figs. 6 to 8 inclusive; the endv of the `stud-3l that projects through the perforation in the strap bears against the end of the slot in the upper end of members 32 thus transmitting all pullinglstrains on the strapto the body 24 of the buckle and the plates 32.` n; i

In my improved buckle the stud or ystuds tha engage in the -perforations of the belt or' strap project through the latter at right 'angles and thus the strapor'belt isengaged and held in a practically straight line, particularly at the point of application of strains and stresses, without marring or bendingthe leather at the point of connection, and as the body of the buckle comprises two cooperating transverse loops that vpass around the belt or strap at the point of applitachably connect or unite two straps or the ends. of a single strap, such as a belt, and in addition' to presenting a neat and finished appearance the buckle provides an exceptionally strong, durable, eiiicient and easily manipulated connection for all straps, belts and the like.

It will beunderstood that minor changes in' the size, form and construction of the Various parts of my improved buckle kmay be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is pended claims. l

I claim as my invention: l

l. In a buck1ea pair of cooperating body members adapted, when engaged with one anlother, to receive a strap, a strap-engaging stud carried by one of said body members, a pair of resilient members secured to and projecting from the lower portion of the other one of said body members and means secured to the stud-carrying body member and passing between said resilient members to form a sliding fulcrum for said stud-carrying body member when the latter is disengaged from the other body member.

2. In a buckle, a pair of cooperating body members adapted, when engaged with one another, to receive a strap, a strap-engaging stud carried by one of said members, a pair of resilient members secured to and projecting from the lower portion of the other one of said body members, means secured to the stud-carrying body member and passing between said resilient members to form a sliding fulcrum for said studcarrying body member when the latter is disengaged from the other body member and a portion of which stud-carrying body member underlies a portion of said second mentioned body member when the parts of the buckle are properly connected.

3. In a buckle, a pair of cooperating body members having releasably interengaging parts and adapted when connected to receive a strap, resilient members secured to and projecting from one of said body members, means projecting from the other body member and passing between said resilient members and a strap-engaging stud carried by the sliding and swinging body member.

4. In a buckle, a pair of cooperating body members having releasably interengaging parts and adapted when connected to receive a strap, resilient members secured to and projecting from one of said body members, means projecting from set forth in the apthe other body member and passing between' said'- resilient members vand a portion of one of 'which' body members underlies a portion of the, other body member when the parts of the buckle are closed and in engagement with a strap.

5. In a buckle, the combination with a belt receiving loop and a pair of substantially parallel' resilient members secured to andprojecting from a portion of said loop, of a buckle member mounted for sliding andftilting `movement upon said resilient members and having a'portion that is adapted to underlie a portion of said loop when the parts of the buckle are in closed position.

6. In a'buckle, the combination with a beltreceiving loop and avpair of vsubstantially parallelresilient members secured to and projecting froma portion ofsaid loop', of a buckle member mounted for'sliding and Ytilting movement upon said resilient members, having a portion that is adapted to underlie a portion of said loop when the parts of the buckle lare in closed position and a belteengaging'stud carried by the'r underlying portion of said sliding and tilting buckle body member.

'7. In a buckle, the combination :with a beltreceiving loop and a pair of substantially parallel resilient members secured torand projecting from aportion of said loop, of a'buckle member mounted for sliding and tilting movementupon vvsaid resilient members,` having a portion that is adapted to underlie a portion of said loop when' the parts of the buckle arein closed'position, a belt-engaging stud carried by the underlying portion of said sliding and tilting buckle body member and said resilient members 'being provided withv openings for the reception of 'a strap or the like.

8. Ina buckle, a `pair of cooperating body members adapted to receive a strap, resilient members secured to and projecting from one of said body members and engaging a part of the other body member to form a sliding fulcrum between said-members, a strap engaging stud projecting at right angles from one of said body members, the end of which stud is adapted to engage one of said resilient members when the buckle is closed, and a portion of the body member that carries said stud occupying a position beneath the other body member When the buckle is closed.

9. In a buckle, a pair of cooperating body members adapted to receive a strap, resilient members secured to and projecting from one of said body members and engaging a part of the other body member to form a sliding fulcrum between saidmembers, a strap engaging stud projecting at right angles from one of said body members, the end of which stud is adapted to engage one of said resilient members when the buckle is closed, a portion of the body member that carries said stud occupyinga position beneath the other body member when the buckle is closed, and said resilient members being provided With openings for the reception of a strap or the like.

10. In a buckle, a pair of cooperating body members having releasably interengaging parts and adapted, when connected, to receive a strap, resilient members'secured-to and projecting from one of said body members and means projecting from the other body member and extending between said resilient members to form a sliding fulcrum between said members.

FREDERICK A. RAY. 

